Ellinwood's HR gives Staples 8-inning win over New Canaan

Scott Ericson

Updated 9:04 pm, Monday, May 5, 2014

Staples high school Topher Brown slides into second safely as New Canaan high school second baseman Brandon Abate jumps to catch to throw during a baseball game played at Mead Park, New Canaan, CT on Monday, May, 5th, 2014.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Staples high school Topher Brown slides into second safely as New...

Staples high school second baseman Nick Vega doesn't agree with the umpires call as New Canaan high school's Jeffrey Chen is called safe at second during a baseball game played at Mead Park, New Canaan, CT on Monday, May, 5th, 2014.

Photo: Mark Conrad

Staples high school second baseman Nick Vega doesn't agree with the...

New Canaan high school shortstop Matt Toth fields an infield ground ball during a baseball game against Staples high school played at Mead Park, New Canaan, CT on Monday, May, 5th, 2014.

Photo: Mark Conrad

New Canaan high school shortstop Matt Toth fields an infield ground...

New Canaan high school's Clark Newlove gets back to second before Staples high school shortstop Sam Ellinwood gets the throw during a baseball game played at Mead Park, New Canaan, Conn. on Monday, May 5th, 2014.
Photo: Mark Conrad

New Canaan high school's Clark Newlove gets back to second before...

Staples high school against New Canaan high school during a baseball game played at Mead Park, New Canaan, CT on Monday, May, 5th, 2014.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Staples high school against New Canaan high school during a...

Staples high school against New Canaan high school during a baseball game played at Mead Park, New Canaan, CT on Monday, May, 5th, 2014.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Staples high school against New Canaan high school during a...

Staples high school against New Canaan high school during a baseball game played at Mead Park, New Canaan, CT on Monday, May, 5th, 2014.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Staples high school against New Canaan high school during a...

Staples high school against New Canaan high school during a baseball game played at Mead Park, New Canaan, CT on Monday, May, 5th, 2014.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Staples high school against New Canaan high school during a...

Staples high school against New Canaan high school during a baseball game played at Mead Park, New Canaan, CT on Monday, May, 5th, 2014.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Staples high school against New Canaan high school during a...

Staples high school against New Canaan high school during a baseball game played at Mead Park, New Canaan, CT on Monday, May, 5th, 2014.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Staples high school against New Canaan high school during a...

Staples high school against New Canaan high school during a baseball game played at Mead Park, New Canaan, CT on Monday, May, 5th, 2014.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Staples high school against New Canaan high school during a...

Staples high school against New Canaan high school during a baseball game played at Mead Park, New Canaan, CT on Monday, May, 5th, 2014.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Staples high school against New Canaan high school during a...

New Canaan high school head coach Mitch Hoffman during a baseball game against Staples high school played at Mead Park, New Canaan, CT on Monday, May, 5th, 2014.
Photo: Mark Conrad

New Canaan high school head coach Mitch Hoffman during a baseball...

New Canaan's Matt Toth fires across the diamond in a home baseball game against Staples at Mead Park on Monday, May 5.
Photo: Mark Conrad

New Canaan's Matt Toth fires across the diamond in a home baseball...

New Canaan high school pitcher Dan Rajkowski on the mound during a baseball game against Staples high school played at Mead Park, New Canaan, CT on Monday, May, 5th, 2014.
Photo: Mark Conrad

New Canaan high school pitcher Dan Rajkowski on the mound during a...

Staples high school Topher Brown gets back to first safely just before New Canaan high school first baseman Alex LaPolice gets the throw during a baseball game played at Mead Park, New Canaan, CT on Monday, May, 5th, 2014.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Staples high school Topher Brown gets back to first safely just...

Staples high school shortstop Sam Ellinwood can't get a handle on an infield ground ball during a baseball game against New Canaan high school played at Mead Park, New Canaan, CT on Monday, May, 5th, 2014.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Staples high school shortstop Sam Ellinwood can't get a handle on...

Staples high school second baseman Nick Vega dives as he tries to tag New Canaan high school's Zack Smith out at second during a baseball game played at Mead Park, New Canaan, CT on Monday, May, 5th, 2014.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Staples high school second baseman Nick Vega dives as he tries to...

New Canaan high school's Clark Newlove running from second to third base during a baseball game against Staples high school played at Mead Park, New Canaan, CT on Monday, May, 5th, 2014.
Photo: Mark Conrad

New Canaan high school's Clark Newlove running from second to third...

Staples high school pitcher Ben Casparius on the mound during a baseball game against New Canaan high school played at Mead Park, New Canaan, CT on Monday, May, 5th, 2014.
Photo: Mark Conrad

NEW CANAAN -- If winning nail-biting games is the sign of a team destined for playoff success, teams will not want to lock up with Staples once the postseason rolls around.

Three times Staples has gone to extra innings this season and all three times they have left victorious, including a 6-5 triumph over New Canaan in eight innings at Mead Park Monday.

The win keeps Staples (10-3, 9-2 FCIAC) alone in second place while New Canaan (9-4, 7-4) falls back into the scrum of teams between third and ninth place.

Senior shortstop Sam Ellinwood drove the first pitch he saw in the top of the eighth deep to left field, just keeping it fair for a solo home run, giving his team its third win in extras.

Ellinwood said he wanted to get on base leading off the inning but the first offering was a pitch up that he liked so he took a crack at it.

"I am determined in that at bat to hit the ball hard somewhere," Ellinwood said. "He left the pitch up and I put a good swing on it, but all I was thinking about was to try and put the ball in play and start something for us."

Ellinwood had a double to go along with his home run, Nathan Panzer had two RBIs and Topher Brown went 3 for 4 with a run scored for the Wreckers.

New Canaan got the first two men on in the bottom of the eighth but Justin Gallanty shut the door, getting three straight outs to pick up the win.

The Rams seemed to be in perfect position to rally with two men on but a sacrifice bunt by Dan Rajkowski hit him as he left the batter's box for the automatic out and sending the runners back to first and second.

New Canaan coach Mitch Hoffman has seen the Rams lose three close games in the last four outings and said his team needs to win these types of games.

"It sucks, that's all," Hoffman said. "Lose on a home run that, I don't know if it hit the tree to stay fair, who knows? It was a great game both ways. It's the third one in a row and I could use a few choice words but hopefully it teaches them to close the door the next time."

Alex LaPolice had two hits and scored two runs, Brandon Abate drove in two runs and scored one and Zack Smith had a RBI double for the Rams.

New Canaan got a run in the first to take an early lead but then each team answered the other with runs in the fourth and fifth.

Staples put up two in the fourth to go up 2-1 but New Canaan quickly tied it 2-2 in the bottom of the inning.

In the fifth, Staples again took the lead 4-2 but New Canaan re-took it 5-4 with three of its own in the bottom of the fifth.

Brian Porter led off the top of the seventh with a single, eventually scoring the tying run on a groundout by Nick Vega, sending the game to extra innings.

With a runner on and no outs in the bottom of the seventh, Staples turned to Gallanty, who pitched Friday but was ready to go according to coach Jack McFarland.

"He is going to move the game along and throw strikes," McFarland said. "If we are going to lose, they are going to have to hit the ball. He's great on bunts and that's why I brought him in. He's a senior and a winner and he pitched Friday, so, he's not 100 percent."

An error allowed another Rams runner on in the seventh but with two on Gallanty got a pop up to himself and a fly ball to right to end the threat.

Freshman Ben Casparius started the game for Staples, going 4 2/3 innings, striking out four before being lifted.